Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Abohar

is a city and a municipal council in Firozpur district in the state of Punjab, India, located on the Ganganagar–Delhi railway route, nearly 50 km from Ganganagar. Its population, as of 2001, was 124,303. This city is also known as the "California of Punjab" for its rich soil, good irrigation sources, and particularly for the production of kinnow, a fruit of the orange family. Abohar is also very famous for the cotton production and is one of the biggest cotton producing belt in whole North India. Abohar is also called mini Chandigarh. Abohar was called by the name - "KESAR GANJ" in past.

Contents [hide]

1 History

2 Demographics

3 Agricultural Research

4 Educational institutes

5 NGO's

6 Tourism

7 Transportation

8 Languages

9 Maps

10 References

11 External links

[edit]History

Abohar is a historical city which is located on the inter-state boundary of the country. It may be called trinity of the culture, ethnicity, and civilization of Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan. Its boundaries touch Rajasthan's mounds on one side and plains of Haryana on the other. Village Dharampura, Dhingawali, Panjkosi and Waryam Khera are famous villages Under British rule, in 1893, the town was more of a mound of sand with a total population of only 5,954. Its name was Kaiser-Ganj. However, its present population has grown to 200,000 approximately, in a period of about 120 years. Its main business mandi is called darwaza.

River Satluj streaming by its side, Aabha Nagari, some 550 years ago, was a fabulous city of India. As one enters Abohar, one sees the remains of the ancient city Abha-nagri, a big mound of sand and stones which is known Theh among local people. This mound is not only a dune of sand; there historical city is also a big palace, built by a Suryavanshi king Aabu-Chandni, buried under it.

Another legendary dune named Panjpeer is just 500 feet (150 m) away from Theh. There are tombs of five pirs on this mound. The beautiful Aabu city was destroyed by the curse of these pirs. A big fair is held on this mound every Thursday. The story of the Aabu Nagar is very attention-grabbing and spine-tingling. After king Aabu-Chandni, king Harichand ruled Aabu Nagar. King Harichand had only one daughter. She was very impressive, a good shooter, and fond of riding also. Once the king fell victim to leprosy. Someone told the king that he could recover only with the blood of the horses of five pirs of Multan. The brave daughter of the king snatched the 81 horses of five pirs along with their goods, but king Harichand succumbed to the disease. Five pirs sent many request to get their horses back, but the princess refused to give their horses back. Amar Pura is very famous village of city in case of cotton and wheat production.

At last, the five pirs came to Abu city from Multan to get back their horses and camped on a hillock of sand near present Abohar. Many days passed but the princess did not give back their horses. The wives of five pirs came to Aabu city in search of their husbands. The pirs became angry on seeing them and cursed them due to which they were buried under the earth.

There is another mound at a distance of about 200 feet (61 m) from Panjpeer, where their tombs are erected. The five pirs got angry, for not being returned their horses, and destroyed the Aabu Nagar with their divine powers, according to popular legends.

At the time of partition in 1947, the city witnessed bloodshed due to Hindu Muslim riots as this was the last main town along Delhi-Bahawalpur Section. Much as, as of today, the local community lives in the town with the feeling of harmony and common brotherhood. All sections, castes, religious sects visit PANJ PEER, BALA JI DHAM, Church, and Gurudwaras with much devotion without any maligned motives or intentions towards each other Many other achievements in academic, agriculture, industry, innovations, infrastructure and a big grain market are particularly noteworthy. In the black days of punjab , when the region was hit by terrorism, Abohar also saw a painful period of terrorism. In March 1990 many innocent people were killed by terrorists in Sadar Bazaar of Abohar. It was really a shameful activity of terrorists.

[edit]Demographics

As of 2001 India census,[1] Abohar had a population of 124,303. Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. Abohar has an average literacy rate of 65%, higher than the national average of 59.5%; with 58% of the males and 42% of females literate. 13% of the population is under 6 years of age.

[edit]Agricultural Research

Abohar Is a leading place in Punjab for Agricultural research of the region. This research started with the establishment of Regional Fruit Research Station in 1964 which was officially inaugurated in 1969 By Dr. M.S.Randhawa Vice Chancellor Punjab Agricultural University. A total of 25 acres (100,000 m2) of seed farm is under fruit research program. mainly in Abohar the most grown plant is Kinnow also known as "Aboharvi santra" . Kinnow is brought to India in 1949 from California as a hybrid fruit of citrus category coming under Orange fruit. Because of its sweetness and that it is easy to grow, the profit margin is very high. Recently PEPSI has submitted a proposal to research on fruit juice under its trademark, which will be available hopefully in next 3-4 yrs. Scientists of this research station has given hundreds of new verities to Indian horticulture. In the outskirts of city Central Institute of Postharvest Engineering and Technology (CIPHET) campus Abohar, an ICAR institute is located; here research is carried out and training is given on post harvest aspects of fruits and vegetable.

[edit]Educational institutes

Abohar is the educational hub in the south west Punjab. It has got a post Graduate college, ITI, Homeopathic College, Nursing College and various other institutes. It has produced many politicians like Dr. Balram Jakhar, who remained the speaker of Lok Sabha (Lower house of Parliament) GOVERNOR OF MADHYA PRADESH, Minister and Governor of State. & Mr. Virendera Kataria etc.

Abohar Polytechnic College, Abohar

Amrit Model Senior Secondary School

Anmol Public School

Army School

Asian Public High School

Assumption Convent School

B.D Adarsh Sr. Sec. School

B.L. Vikas Mandir Sr. Sec. School

Brahmrishi mission sr. sec. school

D.A.V. College of Education

D.A.V.College

D.A.V. Sr. Sec School

Divine Light Public Sen. Sec. School

Flower Valley Public Sr. Sec. School

Genius International School

G.D. Senior Secondary Model School

New Light Public Sr.Sec.School

Gopichand Arya Mahila College

Govt. Model High School, Abohar

Govt. Sr. Sec. School for Boys

Govt. Sr. Sec. School for Girls

Homoeopathic Medical College

Maa Sarswati College of Pharmacy

Maharishi Dayanand College of Education

Mata Hansa Devi College

Radiant Institute of Engineering & Technology,

Sri Guru Nanak Khalsa College

Sardar patel medical institute of nursing & hospital.

Sardar patel convent public high school, kheo wali dhab.

Swami Keshwanand Memorial College,

Swami Keshwanand Sr. Sec. School

Vikas Adarsh Sr. Sec. School

Golden public sen.sec. school,

Alpine Institute Of school Education

[edit]NGO's

Natrang Society ( Reg)

Natrang Youth Club Atteced to Nehru Yuva Kendra

Natrang Society is a NGO Reg. Under Society act. And working in the area since 2004. main functional area of this NGO is : National Development, Youth, Women & Children rights & Development, Health, Education. and environment. Rural Development. Theater, Issues Related to International Border Area Peace & Humanity. Members of Natrang Youth Club & Natrang Society work togather for the overall development of Nation & Society.

[edit]Tourism

Abohar is a not a hot tourism spot, though there are a few religious locations (e.g., Gurudwara Nanaksar on Fazilka Road, Historical Gurudwara Badtirath in Haripura near Abohar, Panjpir) that attract a large number of people from surrounding villages and nearby cities.

There are few motels in its vicinity, for instance, Kala Titar between Dabwali and Sangaria opened by Haryana Government couple of decades ago. Visits to some special market locations, for example, street number 12, 11, and 9, within the city can give a good sense of hustle-bustle of a typical small town.

Abohar is also an open wild life sanctuary. In villages of Abohar you can find Black Buck(deer), of which only a few hundred are now left in world. Situated in the southern tip of the Division, this Wild Life Sanctuary is an open Sanctuary comprising 13 revenue villages. These villages are inhabited by the Bishnoi Community whose love for animals is legendary. The total area of the Sanctuary is 46,513 acres (188.2 km2). It was declared as a Wild Life Sanctuary under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 in 2000. The main species found in the Sanctuary is the Black Buck which can be seen loitering around in the fields and sometimes even in homes like cattle. In addition, a variety of other animals like Nilgai, Wild boar, Porcupine, Jackal, Hare etc. can also be seen These animals are protected by villagers as they don't let hunters kill them. .Shri Sankat Mochan Khatu Dham situated at Abohar Sri Ganganagar Road vill.Alamgarh bye pass chowk ABOHAR.This is a holy place of Lord Sri Khatu Shyam ji & Lord Sri Salasar Hanuman ji. This place is now under construction with in a large space of 33,000 square feet (3,100 m2) area. An annual function is held in Sep. or Oct. month of the every year. A big crowd gathers in the function. Many other big functions are organised by the community. This is first big temple in Punjab.

A Few other historical spots:

Shree Balaji Dham

Shree Geeta mandir

Shree Shyam Bihari mandir

Ghanta Ghar

Bhagat Singh Chowk

Nehru Park

Raja Abba Killa

Regional Fruit Research Station (Seed Farm) Kinnow was first introduced in India from this research station

Sapan Waali Village (Produces rose plants for the whole north India)

Black Buck Wild Life Sanctuary

Usha Mata Mandir

DangarKhera Wali Mata Mandir

New Sai Baba Mandir,

Shri Sankat Mochan Khatu Dham

Santoshi Mata Mandir

waryam khera village

Johri mandir

Bishnoi Mandir Mehrana Dhora (Sito Gunno to Malout Road)

[edit]Transportation

Finally Abohar has got its most awaited Flyover.It has made smooth transportation between Municipal Bus-stand and College Road. Abohar is well connected to other cities in the state of Rajasthan Haryana and Punjab. Railway and buses are the primary modes of transportation. The town is connected by railways to Ganganagar in south-west direction and to Delhi through Bhatinda in the east. Recently, Indian Railways has approved laying of the tracks between Abohar-Fazilka Section. Abohar is Connected to the whole north area From Sriganganagar to Delhi and from Abohar to Bikaner and from Abohar to Haridwar.

[edit]Languages

Punjabi is the main language spoken in Abohar as it is official language of Punjab as well as mother tongue of people of city.Bagri,a dailect of Rajasthani language is very common in city and surrounding rural areas.Besides, media and educational system has made popular Hindi,English languages in this city.Haryanavi is also language of some people.